The search for the next British representative at the Eurovision Song Contest has begun. In an interview with Attitude Magazine, Scott Mills, BBC Radio 2 DJ and BBC Eurovision semi-finals commentator, said that “meetings are already underway” in preparation for next year’s contest in Malmö, Sweden.
The “Problem” and the Solution:
In Mills’ eyes, the UK has a “problem” when it comes to picking an artist to send to Eurovision. Countries like Israel, he says, can just send their best pop stars, while the UK can’t do that because they have global megastar pop stars.
So, what sort of act does Mills propose sending to Malmö? Well, he doesn’t think a nostalgia or novelty act is a good idea. But, there are two qualities that Mills thinks the next UK representatives need:
- Someone “probably new or new-ish”
- Someone that “loves it, and is up for it” – stating that “that’s what we had in spades with Sam and also with Mae”
At the time of writing, the BBC is yet to comment on the UK’s participation at Eurovision 2024, as well as the selection method the broadcaster will use to select their entry.
The UK’s Eurovision Journey
The UK is one of the most successful countries at the Eurovision Song Contest. Debuting at the second edition ever of the Contest in 1957, the United Kingdom won the competition on five separate occasions. The most recent win for the UK was in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, singing “Love Shine A Light”. The UK also holds the record for the number of second place finishes – currently at 16.
In 2023, Mae Muller represented the UK on home soil in Liverpool with her song “I Wrote A Song”. At the close of voting, the UK finished 25th in a field of 26, earning a total of 24 points. Of these, 15 points came from the jury, whilst the remaining 9 came from the televote.
So, who do you think the UK should send to Malmö next May? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. Don’t forget to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ over at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.
News Source – Attitude Magazine
Photo Credit – Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
